Ship ladder



May 28,` 1940.

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A. MYERSTUEN SHIP LADDER Filed Nov. :50, 1958 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE' SHIP LADDER Andrew Myerstuen, Seattle, Wash. Application November so, 193s, serial No. 243,128

3 Claims. (Cl. 228-40) This invention relates to ships ladders, an object being to provide a ships ladder which will conform to Government requirements, which can be easily, quickly and conveniently lowered over the side of the ship for use, or stored on the ship in a relatively small space.

This improved ships ladder embodies manyv novel features of construction, some of which may be enumerated as follows:

The steps of the ladder are of a metal, preferably of salt water resistant aluminum alloy, and are of general inverted channel shape so that they will readily free themselves from water which might accumulate therein.

'Ihe steps are formed with laterally projecting ears at both ends, which allow the ladder to be operated with equal efciency regardless of which side may be outward, and these ears do not extend above or below the upper and lower surfaces of the steps, so as not to interfere with the best operation of the ladder.

The stiles of the ladder constitute chains which are of metal and may be enameled, galvanized or otherwise coated. When these chains are secured to the ends of the steps by means of chain clamping plates they provide spaces narrower than the normal width of the links of the chain, so that the links which are located under the plates are transversely compressed vand the plates are of such a length as to comprise substantially the entire space between the links so as not to prevent any undue vertical movement of the steps relative to the chains. Furthermore, the steps are spaced apart according to standard regulations and are of such a distance as to prevent any possibility of the steps entangling in use or in folding.

Other features of novelty and advantage will appear hereinafter and be more specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure k1 is a broken view in elevation illustrating my improved ships ladder;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the steps of the ladder, showing fragments of chain connected thereto;

Fig. 3 is an end view of one of the stepswith parts broken away for clearance;

Fig. llis a plan view of one end of a step; and

Fig. 5 is a View in longitudinal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Ill represents the steps of the ladder and I I-I I the Stiles, which, as above stated, constitute chains. I'he steps I0 are of sheet metal, and of general inverted channel shape, and are provided on their upper surface, at their edges, with tread ribs I2-I2. Metal straps I3 are secured intermediate their ends to the ends ofthe steps and at their extremities are bent upon themselves and have their ends riveted to the sides of the steps so that they form laterally projecting ears I4 at both ends of the steps and projecting in opposite directions so as to contact with the side of the ship and hold the steps away from the side of the ship and permit the ladder to be positioned with either side thereof toward the ship.

The steps are spaced apart the desired distance and the stiles II-'II which constitute chains are secured to the ends of the steps by means of clamping plates I5. These clamping plates I5 are offset intermediate their ends, providing a space for the accommodation of a single link of the chain, and the ends of the plate are sey curely riveted to the steps as shown at I6.

It will be noted that the clamping plate I5 is appreciably narrower than the normal width of a link of the chain so that the link which is clamped to the end of the step is contracted laterally and securely held by the clamping plate, which is of a length to fill the space between the adjacent ends of links, with this exception that the lower end of the clamping plate is cut away or recessed as shown at I'I, to provide room and to conform in shape to the curvature of the bent ends I8 of a link. This construction allows for full ilexibility of the ladder but prevents any distortion of the ladder which would entangle the steps or interfere with the perfect operation of E the ladder.

In order to hold a series of the lowermost steps of the ladder from independent twisting or unlimited movement I preferably provide these lowermost steps of the ladder with openings I9 adjacent their outer ends, and position rods 20 in the alined openings of this lowermost series of steps, and these rods may have heads 2I on their upper ends to limit their downward movement. It will of course be understood that the rods may be easily and quickly dropped into position and removed, so as not to interfere with the folding or collapsing of the ladder when it is drawn up on deck.

While I have illustrated and described what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that various changes may be made in the general form and arrangement of parts without departing from the invention, as I do not limit myself to the specific details set forth, and consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ships ladder including sheet metal steps, and chain stiles and oiset clamping plates secured to the ends of the steps and clamping links of the chain, the links in said clamping plates being contracted transversely and securely bound by the plates.

2. A ships ladder including sheet metal steps, and chain stiles and offset clamping plates secured to the ends of the steps and clamping links of the chain, the links in said clamping plates being contracted transversely and securely bound by the plates, said clamping plates substantially lling the space longitudinally between links and having its lower portion recessed to conform to the shape of the coupling of the links.

3. A ships ladder comprising a pair of stiles and steps carried by said stiles, each of said steps including a substantially rectangular body presenting a general inverted channel shape, a pair of ears adjacent each end, each ear comprising a transverse section extending laterally across an end of said body beyond the sides of the body and merging into bent extremities resting against the sides of said body, clamping members clamping the ends of said extremities to said body,k a clamp for clamping a stile to said transverse section and clamping members for securing said clamp in operative position and said transverse section to said body.

ANDREW MYERSTUEN. 

